Norovirus cases multiply to at least 200 people at Tough Mudder

Jul. 5, 2013

Hooligans for Heroes is a local organization composed of soccer supporters that raises funds and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. A team of supporters ran in last weekend's Tough Mudder race at the Michigan International Speedway. / Jackie Carline/Hooligans for Heroes

Written by

Free Press Medical Writer

How to stop norovirus

Health officials say several steps can help stop the spread of norovirus. ■Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating, preparing or handling food. (Some illnesses can be found in vomit or stool before the onset of symptoms and can remain in your stool two weeks after symptoms subside. ■If you are sick, do not prepare food or care for others who are sick. ■Clean surfaces and disinfect contaminated surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution — about 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach for a gallon of water. ■Immediately wash clothes or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool.

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State health officials this afternoon said they have confirmed norovirus as the source that sickened at least 200 people at last weekend’s Tough Mudder contest at Michigan International Speedway.

The calls had continued to climb over the July 4 holiday — filling up the voice mailbox at the Lenawee County Health Department and sending staff scrambling to set up a hotline for anyone who attended the event.

Officials want to hear from both those who were sickened and those who weren’t.

“We want to hear from anybody who was a participant, spectator or a worker. ... If we know what the sick people participated in and what the well people participated in, we might be able to rule something out,” said Lenawee County Health Officer Patsy Bourgeois.

The new hotline, 517-264-5215, offers information about the suspected outbreak. It also asks callers to leave information so that health officials can send them an on-line survey about their experience.

Callers to the health department’s regular phone line clogged the voice mail over the holiday — traditionally a day off for public health workers. Health staff, who were monitoring calls remotely, realized the problem, Bourgeois said.